Lessig on 2016: ‘I'm in'

Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law professor and campaign finance reform advocate, said Sunday he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination after his exploratory committee hit its $1 million fundraising target before Labor Day.

“I'm running to get people to acknowledge the elephant in the room, right. We have to recognize we have a government that does not work,” Lessig said in explaining his campaign platform.

“This stalemate, partisan platform of American politics in Washington right now doesn't work,” he added. “And we have to find a way to elevate the debate to focus on the changes that would actually get us a government that could work again, that is not captured by the tiniest fraction of the 1 percent who fund campaigns and make it impossible for our government.”

Lessig’s announcement comes as new NBC News/Marist polls showed some volatility in the race for the Democratic nomination.

In New Hampshire, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders jumped out to a 9-point lead over former Secretary Hillary Clinton, while her lead in Iowa over Sanders now stands at 11 points -- down from 24 points in July.